Bird watching can be a fantastic hobby. You can find yourself absorbed for hours, closed up in the hide or simply looking out into the garden or fields beyond, noticing all the wonderful species that come your way. You never know what you might come across, but if you really want to make the most of your hobby then having quality bird watching binoculars is essential.

Going for quality binoculars will give you the clarity you need to spot anything that comes close. It can mean the difference between correctly identifying a bird and having doubts as to what it was, and with many markings being incredibly fine it’s vital you can tell them apart.

This means you need to look for bird watching binoculars that come complete with high resolutions and excellent contrast capabilities, as well as plenty of usable design features that ensure their suitability for the job. They should be robust enough to cope with the demands placed upon them, offering exceptional durability that doesn’t compromise clarity. Ultimately you’ll want a scope that can offer the perfect combination of dependability and exceptional optical performance, and when you come to us that’s exactly what you’ll be able to find.

There’s nothing better than being able to really indulge in your hobby, and investing in high-end binoculars can be the perfect way to treat yourself. With quality options you’ll be able to enjoy your bird watching time to its full potential, so take a look around and you’ll soon find just what you’re looking for.

As a supplier of first rate astronomical telescopes and optics, there’s nothing we love more than all the invaluable odds, ends and gadgets on offer to enhance your celestial viewing, camping or bird watching experiences.

Night Vision
You’ll understand the logic that each of us here in the Sherwoods studio has our own optical viewing hobbies. We’re made up of astronomers, outdoor pursuits fanatics, twitchers and nature lovers; but the one thing we all agree is a must is night vision capability. We stock lots of different night vision optics and accessories to suit a huge range of interests and budgets, e.g. lightweight, long-distance etc. A red light torch is also a must for localised light-sensitive viewing such as referencing space charts or field guides.

Literature
A really great field guide is invaluable in all areas of interest. Most folks (us included) prefer to keep things compact and concise, so our range of star maps, bird watching guides etc. are all noted for their ease of use, portability and long-term relevance.

Comfort
Once you’ve spent a long evening with your eye plastered to an astronomical telescope, you’ll understand why soft eyecups are invaluable! Most of our eyecups are designed for both day and night viewing, with some featuring great light pollution reduction design elements.

Magnification
The best of astronomical telescopes won’t help you read a space chart on a blustery UK night! A simple compact magnifying glass is considered basic kit by bird watchers and astronomers alike.

Tuning our astronomical telescopes and bird watching binoculars for migrations and celestial events like Norfolk’s Keeling Heath Star Camp, there’s no time like the present to brush up on a few countryside etiquette basics.

Take All Rubbish Home
We all share the responsibility to take good care of the countryside around us. Rubbish is a big, BIG problem in many of the UK’s much-loved nature reserves simply because of the massive number of seasonal visitors. Think of it this way – you drop a chewing gum wrapper… but so do the other five hundred people visiting the park that day. Within a week there are thousands tiny bits of debris littering the park. Most nature reserves provide bins, but it makes their job a little easier when visitors take their waste home. This also applies to biodegradable waste like partially eaten burgers and orange peel; ecosystems are fragile, and the introduction of any foreign substances can cause damage, as well as interrupting any scientific work being carried out on the area, as is often the case in most of the UK’s nature reserves.

Good Manners
Keeping dogs under control (including picking up their waste as you would on an urban street), leaving gates as you find them (this could mean leaving them open too), not kicking a few dry stone wall stones down to give your astronomical telescopes or bird watching binoculars a better rest etc. – it’s essential that we all do our best to maintain the lush greenery of the UK.

Always on the lookout for great opportunities to try out the latest in astronomical telescopes, we’re all looking forward to the 2011 calendar of celestial events across the UK!

Organised annually by Loughton Astronomical Society and Kelling Heath site management, the 2011 Autumn Equinox Sky Camp – held on Kelling Heath, Norfolk – looks set to be one of the brightest and biggest group astronomical viewing events in the 2011 UK calendar. The main event runs over the weekend of 24th-25th Septemer 2011, with extending camp options covering the 19th-30th September 2011.

Astronomical telescopes aside, the party is a great place for hundreds of like-minded astronomers of all abilities to get together and trade celestial tips and astronomically useful star gazing guidance. Children are welcome, as are groups.

The evening/night of 24th September is considered the main event, but there are plenty of lectures and discussion groups to get everyone through daylight hours too! Non-camping entry is free, but those wishing to drive home should be aware that car movement is stringently restricted once darkness falls.

Special Sky Party camping areas are set aside at a reduced rate for groups or individuals wishing to stay the night (or a few!) Lighting regulations are strict, so, as past Sky Camp attendees, we’d have to say that night vision optics can be invaluable for everything from finding dropped keys to adjusting the sight of your telescope!

If the Sky Party sounds like your cup of celestial tea, we’ll see you there with our night vision gadgets and top of the range telescopes!

The UK is superb for bird watching. So, as well as your new Sherwoods Photographic bird watching binoculars or telescopes, what makes the base of a great summer bird watching kit?

Equipment
• Whether you’re a beginner or an avid devotee to twitching, a good pair of bird watching binoculars or specialist telescopes is essential. Shoddy equipment will simply detract from the pleasure of bird watching. Consider investing in a tripod to allow hands-free viewing.
• A notebook is an absolute must for all twitchers. It can also be a good idea to establish a set format as you record your observations (saves on confusion when referencing back over long periods of time) Try to note the time, date, location, weather, species, number and any other extra remarks, e.g. “fled into the hawthorn when the Blue Jay arrived” or “seem to prefer running water to still” etc.
• It’s important that your observations be accurate, so a good bird species or field guide that’s easy to reference quickly and clearly will be a great investment.

Comfort
Whether you’re out in freezing gales or burning sunbeams, a little comfort is invaluable! Investing in a waterproof picnic blanket or small portable camping chair is a good idea for those indenting to be out in the elements for a good while (as is the nature of bird watching!)
Bird watching can actually be pretty physically demanding, so don’t’ forget to take warm layers, water and something nutritious to snack on (try to avoid noisy wrapping, opt for something like cling-film instead)

Whilst some folks invest in our bird watching binoculars and telescopes for adventures over hill and moor, we meet lots of lovely folks who are interested in twitching a little closer to home, namely in their own back gardens!

First off, if there are lots of cats in the neighbourhood you’re at a disadvantage. To get around this it’s best to create high-up bird-friendly areas where local birdlife can safely nest and feed. The eves of old sheds etc. are ideal; anywhere local moggies can’t reach! Try to choose a spot you can view easily and comfortably using your nice new bird watching binoculars or telescopes.
Nesting and Cover
• Native trees and foliage attracts native birds. Do a little research to find out what nature intended to be your garden.
• Protective hedgerows and climbers like ivy, hawthorn, privet and blackthorn are great hiding/feeding spots and nesting locations for small birds.

Water and Food
• Remember to encourage tasty insects which will in turn attract birds.
• A little lawn space will attract larger birds to hunt for juicy worms.
• A safely sited bird bath is great for all birds; close to hiding areas like bushes etc is ideal. Pop a few rocks in for smaller birds to perch on. Birds also love moving water, so a chemical-free water feature could work wonderfully.
• Keep all feeding spots off the ground and free from things like mould and accumulated dirt.
• Birds usually prefer their feeding spots to be a little way away from nesting locations.

For those folks who just can’t resist the urge to throw on a backpack and explore the great outdoors, lightweight kit is essential. You need devices and equipment that both perform and don’t weigh you down!

Binoculars
We offer a brilliant range of compact binoculars designed specifically with portability and easy use in mind. The leading brands we carry on our roster – Nikon, Olympus etc – all offer great models that excel in use, durability and portability. Our recommendation of the day is Nikon’s Sprint IV 8×21 binoculars; perfectly designed for easy usability and extreme adventure!

Night Vision
Some folks struggle to find a practical use for night vision optical devices, but when you’re looking for a lost hiker or trying to spot something on the dark slopes of Snowdon, you need high performance, lightweight night vision optics that deliver high quality images. Lightweight (620g) single lens models like the Cobra Nemesis offer high performance at low cost via hardy design (rubber armouring) and cutting edge technology.

Astronomical Telescopes
The Celestron Astromaster range features several lightweight and compact telescope designs (between 8.16-10.69g) ideal for the intrepid stargazer. The entire Astromaster series is designed for multi-purpose celestial and land viewing, making the budget price models in the collection a good investment for those looking to a) meet their adventurous viewing needs, and b) not spend so much on a device that they’re too worried to use it out in the mud and wind of Mother Nature!